Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
Objectives: Young individuals often lack adequate knowledge and experience to protect themselves during sexual activity, increasing their vulnerability to risky sexual behaviors and sexually transmitted infections like human papillomavirus (HPV). This study examines the sociodemographic, gynecological, and sexual health-related factors influencing young women's likelihood of engaging in premarital risky sexual behaviors and their HPV knowledge. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted online from January to May 2024, and the study included 318 single women aged 18–24, selected via snowball sampling. Data were collected using a Demographic Information Form, the Premarital Risky Sexual Behavior Assessment Scale for Young Women (PRSAS-YW), which assesses the likelihood of engaging in premarital risky sexual behaviors based on scale scores, and the Human Papillomavirus Knowledge Scale (HPV-KS), which measures participants' level of knowledge regarding HPV. Results: Participants exhibited moderate levels of likelihood of engaging in premarital risky sexual behaviors (64.38 ± 13.44) and limited HPV knowledge (12.48 ± 7.57). Education, income, sexual experience, and sources of sexual health information were significantly associated with both likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors and HPV knowledge (P < 0.05). A negative correlation was found between PRSAS-YW and HPV-KS scores (r = −0.227, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Higher education, higher income levels, regular annual gynecological examinations, and access to reliable information, particularly from healthcare providers, were associated with higher HPV knowledge. Sexually inactive women demonstrated a lower likelihood of engaging in premarital risky sexual behaviors. These findings highlight the importance of educational interventions that promote both HPV awareness and the reduction of young women's likelihood of engaging in risky sexual behaviors.